The Future of Work is here – it’s just not evenly distributed.

William Gibson’s insight that “…the future is already here — it’s just not very evenly distributed” has become a mantra amongst self-proclaimed technology experts and armchair futurists of social media. Among other things influencers tell us that the pandemic forever changed the way we work. The pandemic shift to remote work seems to be having a lasting impact but few organizations are embracing this not so new approach to work even with the data showing that when it is feasible remote work enhances productivity, increases employee engagement and employee retention, many companies are insisting on employees returning to the office.

Why?

A majority of employers, including most supposedly effective and efficient for-profit companies fail at talent management. Two measures elucidate the issue: employee engagement and manager ability to manage employees.

Global employee engagement is low and has been low for decades.

According to Gallup, only 30% of employees are engaged at work. Work environment or workplace dynamics are not the only factor in employee engagement, external social factors can affect worker morale. For instance, when inflation begins to erode purchasing power, employee engagement will take a hit due to the reduction in purchasing power of employee paycheques.

Managers are neither ready nor trained to manage people.

Most managers ascend to the role accidentally and receive little to no training, even in large well-established companies who should know better.

The pandemic may have pushed more people to work remotely, but the old ways of doing things are hard to shake. Even though working from home has been proven to boost productivity, keep employees happier, and even help them stick around longer, many companies are still dragging their feet. They’re ignoring all the evidence right in front of them!

This resistance isn’t really about remote work itself, but more about a bigger problem: most companies, even the big-name ones, aren’t great at managing their people. Low employee engagement and a lack of management training aren’t new issues, but the pandemic has put them under a spotlight. So, until companies start investing in their managers and creating a work environment where people actually feel valued, the dream of a better, more flexible way of working is going to stay just that – a dream.